Packaging machine



y 1969 R. D. sAc zou ETAL 3,443,357

PACKAGING MACHINE Filed A rii 21, 1967 Sheet I of 10 INVENTORS ROBERT D. BACON WILLIAM R. DAVIS May 13, 1969 R. D. BACON ETAL 3,443,357

PACKAGING MACHINE Filed April 21, 1967 Sheet 2 of 10 INVENTORS 1 ROBERT D. BACON WILLIAM R. DAVIS May 13, 1969 R. D. BACON ETAL ,4

PACKAGING MACHINE Filed April 21, 1967 Sheet 3 of 10 INVENTORS ROBERT D. BACON WILLIAM R. DAVIS FIG. 3

May 13, 1969 R. D. BACON ETAL v PACKAGING mcumm Filed April 21, 19s? Sheet 4 of 10 INVENT OR ROBERT D. BACON WILLIAM R. DAVIS Sheet PACKAGING MACHINE R. D. BACON ETAL INVENTOR ROBERT D. BACON WILLIAM R. DAVIS May 13, 1969 Filed April 21, 1967 y 3, 1969 R. D. BACON ETAL 3,443,357

PACKAGING MACHINE Sheet Filed April 21, 1967 INVENTORS ROBERT D. BACON WILLIAM R. DAVIS y 1969 R. o. BACON ETAL 3,443,357

PACKAGING MACHINE Sheet 7 of 10 Filed April 21, 1967 INVENTORS ROBERT D. BACON WILLIAM R. DAVIS PACKAGING MACHINE Filed April 21, 1967 Sheet INVENTORS ROBERT D. BACON WILLIAM R. DAVIS Sheet R. D. BACON ETAL PACKAGING MACHINE I May 13, 1969 Filed Al aril 21, 1967 R. D- BACON ETAL PACKAGING MACHINE INVENTORS 5 mm @9 8 mm m9 mm mm 6 ROBERT D. BACON WILLIAM R. DAVIS 5 m in; w 91 N2 m2 mm NE E v hm fi fi m2 3. m1 vw b\l May 13, 1969 'il ed April 21, 1967 United States Patent 3,443,357 PACKAGING MACHINE Robert D. Bacon, Maitland, Fla, and William R. Davis, Lawrenceville, Ga., assignors, by mesne assignments, to Otho Huensel G.m.b.H., Hannover, Germany Filed Apr. 21, 1967, Ser. No. 632,643 Int. Cl. B65b 43/32, 43/24 U.S. Cl. 53186 Claims This invention relates to packaging machinery and more particularly to a machine for the processing of cartons for the packaging of articles of merchandise therein.

A wide variety of packaging machinery is available today for the packaging of articles and merchandise into cartons on a production line basis. Although these presentday machines operate satisfactorily, they are generally somewhat bulky and of complicated construction so as to be relatively high in initial cost. As can be understand, maintenance of such complex packaging machinery involves considerable time and labor adding considerably to the cost of operation of such machines.

Accordingly, a primary object of this invention is to provide a new and novel machine for processing cartons for the packaging of articles of merchandise.

Another object of this invention is to provide a new and novel packaging machine which is lightweight and inexpensive in construction, which utilizes a minimum number of parts, and which is sufliciently portable as to permit easy transporting from place to place.

A further object of this invention is to provide a new and novel machine for processing cartons to receive articles of merchandise in which only slight modifications are required for processing cartons of various types and sizes.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a new and novel packaging machine which permits articles of merchandise to be manually inserted into cartons and which operates at a high speed and in a foolproof manner to set up, close and eject filled cartons at a high production rate.

This invention further contemplates the provision of a packaging machine which incorporates a minimum number of operating steps including the feeding and setting up of flattened cartons for manual loading by an operator and subsequent carton closing and ejection, which is characterized by a highly compact and simple arrangement of parts, which may be associated with any readily available type of equipment such as automatic carton feeders, conveyor systems, etc., and which operates at a production rate limited mainly by the manual dexterity of the operator.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.

The objects stated above and other related objects in this invention are accomplished by the provision of a frame having an upper surface on which a loading zone is provided. A magazine is supported on the frame for bolding a plurality of vertically stacked cartons in a flattened condition and the cartons are provided with flaps at each end for closing the front and rear ends of the carton. A pair of folding and tucking assemblies are provided on the frame adjacent the ends of the loading zone and means are provided for moving the folding and tucking assemblies between an inoperative position for accommodating a carton therebetween and an operative position for moving the carton front and rear flaps into closing relationship with the ends of the carton. Retractable carton stop means are also provided on the frame adjacent the loading zone intermediate the folding and tucking assemblies and means are provided for moving the carton stop means between a retracted position below the frame upper surface and 3,443,357 Patented May 13, 1969 ice an extended position in which the stop means project upwardly from the frame upper surface adjacent the side of the loading zone opposite said magazine. Reciprocally movable carton transfer and squaring means are also provided on the frame and means are provided for moving the carton transfer and squaring means in one direction in the inoperative position of the folding and tucking assemblies to engage the trailing side edge of the lowermost flattened carton in the magazine and in the opposite direction to convey the edge of the engaged carton into the loading zone for abutting engagement of the leading side edge of the flattened carton with the stop means in the extended position. The carton transfer and squaring means are also arranged to continuously urge the carton into the abutting engagement with the extended stop means for squaring and gripping the carton with the ends of the carton adjacent the folding and tucking assemblies for end loading of the carton with an article. Pusher means are also operatively associated with the carton transfer and squaring means for pushing the loaded carton along the frame upper surface out of the loading zone during the movement of the carton transfer and squaring means in the one direction in the inoperative position of the folding and tucking assemblies and in the retracted position of the stop means.

The novel features which are believed to be characteristic of the invention are set forth with particularly in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its organization and method of operation may be best understood by reference to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a front perspective view of a packaging machine constructed in accordance with the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a plan view of a portion of the machine of FIGURE 1, partially in section, showing a carton in the loading position;

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view taken substantially along line 33 of FIGURE 2 in the direction of the arrows;

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view taken substantially along line 4-4 of FIGURE 3 in the direction of the arrows;

FIGURE 5 is a view similar to FIGURE 4 with a carton in the loading position of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 6 is a sectional view similar to FIGURE 4 showing the parts in another operating position;

FIGURE 7 is a sectional view taken substantiall along line 7-7 of FIGURE 3 in the direction of the arrows;

FIGURE 8 is an enlarged sectional view taken substantially along line 8-8 of FIGURE 7 in the direction of the arrows;

FIGURE 9 is a view similar to FIGURE 8 showing the parts in another operating position;

FIGURE 10 is a view similar to FIGURE 8 showing the parts in still another operating position;

FIGURE 11 is an enlarged sectional view of another portion of the machine of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 12 is a view similar to FIGURE 11 showing the parts in another operating position;

FIGURE 13 is a perspective view of a carton of the type packaged in the machine of the invention; and

FIGURE 14 is a schematic diagram of certain parts of the invention.

Referring now to the drawings and to FIGURE 1 in particular, there is shown a packaging machine constructed in accordance with the invention which includes a frame designated generally by the letter F having an upper wall 11 having an upper surface 11a. A carton loading zone is provided on the frame upper surface 11a which is designated generally in FIGURE 1 by the letter L in which a carton C is positioned in the set up or squared condition for loading with an article of merchandise.

A magazine, designated generally by the letter M, is supported on the frame upper surface 11a as shown in FIGURE 1 which is arranged to support a plurality of vertically stacked cartons C in a flattened condition as shown for delivery from the bottom as will be explained hereinafter. The carton C may be of any well-known type which may be flattened as shown in FIGURE 1 and subsequently set up or squared for end loading as shown in the loading position of FIGURE 1. One such carton C which may be readily processed in the packaging machine of the invention is that type known as a reverse tuck carton as shown in FIGURE 13. However, it should be understood that although the packaging machine will be described hereinafter for the processing of such reverse tuck cartons, it will be appreciated that straight tuck or other type of cartons may also be accommodated with only slight modification to the machine.

The reverse tuck carton C of FIGURE 13 includes side walls 13, 14; top and bottom walls 16, 17; front side flaps 18, 19; a front end flap 21 which includes a front end panel 22 and a front tuck tab 23; rear side flaps d 26, 27; a rear end flap 28 including a rear end panel 29 and a rear tuck tab 31.

In the illustrated embodiment, the magazine M includes vertically extending corner guide members 32, 33 substantially L-shaped in cross section having outwardly flared portions 36, 37 at their upper end. The guide members 32, 33 are secured by suitable means such as brackets 38, 39 respectively and screws 41 or the like to the upper surface 11 of the frame. The magazine M also includes vertically extending back guide members 42, 43 also preferably substantially L-shaped in cross section similarly secured by means of brackets 44, 46 respectively and screws 47 or the like to the frame upper surface 11a as shown best in FIGURE 2. The magazine guide members 32, 33, 42, 43 therefore define therebetween a space for accommodating a plurality of vertically stacked cartons in the flattened condition as shown. As shown in FIGURE 2, the magazine M also includes spaced ledge members 51, 52 preferably supported at one end to the brackets 44, 46 respectively which slidably support the lowermost flattened carton in the magazine M.

A pair of opposed folding and tucking assemblies, designated generally by the letters T, T as shown best in FIGURE 3, are supported on the frame F adjacent the ends of the loading zone L. The assemblies T, T" are arranged to fold and tuck the front and rear end and side flaps on the carton C thereby closing the ends of the carton following manual insertion of an article of merchandise (not shown) into the carton. Means are provided for moving these folding and tucking assemblies T, T between an inoperative position as shown in FIGURE 3 for accommodating a carton therebetween and an operative position for moving the carton front and rear flaps into closing relationship with the ends of the carton C as will be explained hereinafter. It should be understood that it is within the scope of this invention to provide a carton C in which the flaps at one end of the carton are foldable in the flattened condition of the carton and which when the carton is squared move into interlocking relationship to automatically form a closed carton end. This type of interlocking end closure on a carton may be of any well-known construction and is commonly referred to as an automatic bottom.

More specifically, rear folding and tucking assembly T includes side flap folders or plate members 53, 54 movable by suitable means such as air cylinders 56, 57 respectively between the inoperative position of FIG- URE 2 into engagement with the carton rear side flaps 26, 27 to move the rear side flaps into the folded position of FIGURES 6, 9. The side flap folders 53, 54 are suitably secured to the cylinders 56, 57 by means of rods 58, 59 and screws 60 or the like respectively slidable within slots 61 in the frame upper surface 11a.

Also included in the rear folding and tucking assembly T is tuck tab folding means or tuck tab folder 62 secured by means of bracket 63 to the piston rod 64 of air cylinder 65 which is suitably supported as shown in FIGURES 3, 11 on a bracket 66 suspended from the frame upper surface 11. It will be noted that the piston rod 64 of cylinder 65 extends through a suitable opening 67 provided in the frame upper wall 11 as shown in FIGURES 3, 11. The tuck tab folder 62 is arranged to move between the inoperative or extended position of FIGURE 3 into the operative or retracted position of FIGURE 11.

The rear folding and tucking assembly T also includes a rear end flap closing means or flap closer 68 secured by means of bracket 69 to the piston rod 70 of pneumatic cylinder 71 and is arranged to move reciprocally between the inoperative position of FIGURE 11 into the operative position of FIGURE 12 for moving the rear end flap 28 into closing relationship with the rear end of the carton C. Preferably a guard is positioned over the folding and tucking assembly T and is suitably secured to the frame upper wall 11 as shown in FIG- URES l, 3. Also included in the rear folding and tucking assembly T is a guide member having an arcuate guide surface 80a which is suitably secured as shown to the frame upper surface 11a.

The front folding and tucking assembly T similarly includes side flap folding means or side flap folders 72, 73 suitably attached by means such as screws 74 to upstanding rods 76 and 77 suitably attached to the piston rods 78, 79 of pneumatic cylinders 81, 82 respectively. It will be noted that the upstanding rods 76, 77 are slidably movable within slots 83 in the frame upper surface 11 and the side flap folders or plate members 72, 73 are arranged to be moved by means of the pneumatic cylinders 81, 82 between the inoperative position of FIGURE 2 into the operative position of FIGURE 7 for folding inwardly the carton front side flaps 18, 19 respectively. Furthermore, it will be noted that the front side flap folders 72, 73 are positioned adjacent the frame upper surface 11a whereas rear side flap folders 53, 54 spaced upwardly therefrom since the carton processed in the illustrated embodiment of the invention is of the reverse tuck type.

The folding and tucking assembly T also includes tuck tab folding means or tuck tab folder 86 suitably mounted on the piston rod 87 of an air cylinder 88 and a carton front end flap closing means or front end flap closer 91 provided with an arcuate surface 91a. As shown in FIGURE 3, the flap closer 91 is suitably mounted on the piston rod 92 of an air cylinder 93. A suitable opening 94 is provided in the frame upper wall 11 to permit the tuck tab folder 86 and the end flap closer 91 to move reciprocally from the inoperative position of FIGURE 3 into the operative position of FIGURE 10.

Retractable carton stop means are provided on the frame F adjacent the loading zone L intermediate the folding and tucking assemblies T, T and means are provided for moving the carton stop means between a retracted position below the frame upper surface 11a and an extended position in which the stop means project upwardly from the frame upper surface 11a. More specifically, the retractable carton stop means include a pair of upstanding rods 96, 97 which in the extended position extend through openings 98, 99 in the frame upper wall 11 as shown in FIGURES l, 2. The rods 96, 97 are preferably formed as extensions of the piston rods of air cylinders 101, 102 respectively which are arranged to move the rods 96, 97 from the retracted position of FIGURE 6 into the extended position of FIGURE 3.

Reciprocally movable carton transfer and squaring means S are also provided on the frame F and means are provided for moving the carton transfer and squaring means in one direction in the inoperative position of the folding and tucking assemblies T, T" to engage the trailing edge C of the lowermost flattened carton in the magazine M supported on the ledges 51, 52 as shown best in FIGURE 6. The carton transfer and squaring means S is also arranged to be moved by the moving means in the opposite direction to convey the edge engaged carton into the loading zone L for abutting engagement of the leading edge C of the flattened carton C with the stop means or rods 96, 97 in the extended position.

More specifically, the carton transfer and squaring means S includes an upstanding arm 106, as shown best in FIGURE 6, having a forwardly extending lip 106a which engages the trailing edge C of the carton C and separates the lowermost flattened carton C from the overlying carton C in the carton stack in the magazine M. Transfer arm 106 has portions 106b, 1060 extending through slots I107, 108 respectively in the frame upper wall 11a and is suitably attached to the piston rod 109 of an air cylinder 110 for movement between the transfer position of FIGURE 6 and the carton squaring position of FIGURE 5. The carton transfer and squaring means S also includes a pair of cables 111, 112 each of which is positioned around a pair of pulleys 113, 114 and 116, 117 respectively with each of the cables 111, 112 being suitably attached to the transfer plate 106 for movement therewith.

Pusher means are operatively associated with the carton transfer and squaring means S for pulsing a loaded carton along the frame upper surface 11a out of the loading zone L in the inoperative position of the folding and tucking assemblies T, T and in the retracted position of the stop means 96, 97 subsequent to the moving of the folding and tucking assemblies T, T into the operative position during the movement of the carton transfer and squaring means S towards the magazine M. More specifically, L-shaped members or discharge lugs 121, 122 are suitably attached to the cables 111, 112 respectively and are provided with upstanding lug portions 121a, 122a which extend upwardly through slots 123, 124 in the frame upper wall 11. Thus when the transfer arm 106 moves towards the magazine M the pusher lug portions 121a, 122a move towards the carton C in the loading zone L.

In order to aid in the squaring and positioning of the carton C in the loading zone L, spring means are provided which is in overlying relationship with the loading zone L so as to engage the top wall 16 of the carton C as it is moved by the transfer plate 106 into the loading zone. More specifically, a pair of laterally spaced spring members 131, 132 are positioned as shown in FIGURE 1 above the loading zone L. The spring members 131, 132 are of substantially 'L-shape and include spring portions 131a, 132a and base portions 131b, '132b respectively which are suitably attached to a bracket 133 supported on the guide members 32, 33 of the magazine M.

Referring now to FIGURE 14, which shows a schematic diagram of the control arrangement for the various component parts of the packaging machine of the invention, three-way, pilot operated pneumatic valves 136, 137, 138, 139 are provided which are arranged to control the air cylinders associated with the various component parts of the packaging machine of the invention. For clarity, these valves 1364139 have not been shown in the other figures of the drawing but the operation of the invention will be clear by reference to FIGURE 14 taken together with the description to follow.

The valves 136 139 are arranged to be supplied with a suitable source of pressurized fluid such as air pressure from a supply 141 through a supply line 142 having located therein a conventional filter 143, regulator 144 and Iubricator 146. An on-otf switch 147, accessible to the operator as shown in FIGURE 1, is positioned in the supply line 142 and a normally closed, manually operated, spring loaded valve 148, also accessible to the operator, is arranged to connect the valve 136 to the supply line 142 to start the cycle of the packaging machine. It

should be understood that the operation of the packaging machine of the invention is automatic and under the control of the manual switch 148 the machine cycle being initiated by switch 148 when a carton C has been positioned in the loading position in loading zone L as shown in FIGURE 1 for manual loading with an article of merchandise by an operator through the open front end of the carton.-

In the position of FIGURE 1, the squared carton C is continuously urged by the transfer and squaring arm 106 against the extended stop rods 96, 97 to grip the carton C, the folding and tucking assemblies T, T being in the previously described inoperative position. When the operator has inserted the article into the carton C and the switch 147 is in theon position, the manual switch 148 is activated and moved from the dotted line to the solid line position of FIGURE 14 to communicate the fluid pressure supply 141 with one side of the valve 136. The parts of valve 136 are then moved from the solid line to the dotted line position of FIGURE 14 so that the side flap folders 53, 54, 72, 73 are extended to move the carton side flaps 18, 19, 26 27, inwardly as shown in FIGURES 7, 11.

The extension of the side flap folder 53 actuates control valve 151, connected as shown between supply line 142 and valve 137, so that the valve parts move from the solid line to the dotted line position of FIGURE 14 to communicate the air supply 141 with one side of valve 137 whereupon tuck tab folder 91 is extended and tuck tab folder 62 is retracted to fold the front and rear tuck tabs 23, 31 around the side flap folders 53, 54, 72, 73 as shown in FIGURES 9, 8, 11. The retraction of the rear tuck tab folder 62 into the position of FIGURE 11 actuates a control valve 152, connected as shown between supply line 142 and valve 136, to communicate the other side of valve 136 with the air supply line 141 and move the valve parts of valve 136 from the dotted line back to the solid line position of FIGURE 14. The side flap folders 53, 54, 72, 73 are therefore permitted to retract to the inoperative position by suitable spring return means incorporated within their actuating cylinders 56, 57, 81, 82.

The retraction of side flap folder 53 actuates a control valve 153, connected between supply line 142 and valve 138, so that the valve parts move from the solid line to the dotted line position of FIGURE 14 to communicate the supply line 141 with one side of valve 138, the parts of which are thereby moved from the solid line to the dotted line position of FIGURE 14. In the dotted line position of the parts of valve '138, the cylinders of the end closers 68, 86 are pressurized so that end closer 86 is extended and end closer 68 is retracted into the operative position to fold the carton rear end panel 29 downwardly with the rear tuck tab 31 moving along the arcuate surface 800 of guide member to close the rear end of the carton. At the same time, the extension of end closer '86 folds the carton front end panel 22 upwardly with the front tuck tab 23 moving along the arcuate undersurface 91a of the tuck tab folder 91 to close the front end of the carton.

The retraction of end closer 68 actuates a control valve 154, connected between supply line 141 and valve 139, to communicate the air supply 141 with one side of valve 139 the parts of which being thereby moved from the solid line to the dotted line position of FIGURE 14. Valve 139 then communicates the air supply 141 with the carton transfer and squaring means cylinder to extend the transfer arm .106 from the squaring position of FIG- URE 5 to the transfer position of FIGURE 6 adjacent the trailing edge C of the lowermost flattened carton C in the magazine M as shown in FIGURE 6 at the same time the supply line 142 is connected to the other side of valves 137, 138 to move the valve parts back to the solid line position of FIGURE 14. In the dotted line position of the parts of valve 139, the cylinders 101, 102 are 7 retracted so that the rods 96, -97 move from the extended position of FIGURE 3 into the retracted position of FIG- URE 6.

As the discharge lugs 121, 122 are connected to the cables 111, 112 which move with the rearward movement of the transfer arm 196, the discharge lug portions 121a, 122a move forwardly into the position of FIGURE 6 engaging the loaded and closed carton C and moving the carton C along the frame upper surface 11a out of the loading zone L for subsequent conveying away from the packaging machine by any suitable means.

The extension of the transfer arm 106 actuates a control valve 156, connected between line 141 and valve 139, from the solid line to the dotted line position of FIGURE 14 communicating the air supply 141 with the other side of valve 139 the parts of which then move back from the dotted line position to the solid line position of FIGURE 14 communicating the cylinders 110 of the transfer arm 106 and cylinders 101, 102 of the stop rods 96, 97 respectively with the air supply line 141.

In the solid line position of the parts of valve 139, the stop rods 96, 97 are extended and transfer arm 106 is retracted from the position of FIGURE 6 to the position of FIGURE 5, an intermediate position on its forward path being shown in FIGURE 4, carrying with it the lowermost carton C, the leading edge C of the carton being subsequently brought into abutting engagement with the rods 96, 97 which have now been extended as a result of the communication of their cylinders 101, 102 with the source of air pressure 141 through the valve 139.

As the flattened carton is moved into the loading zone L by transfer arm 106 against the rods 96, 97, the spring portions 131a, 132a of the spring members 131, 132 are moved yieldingly upward by the top wall 16 of the carton C as it is squared by the continuous urging by the transfer arm 106 of the carton C against the extended rods 96, 97, the carton C nesting under the transfer arm lip 106a as shown. At this time, the now squared carton C, shown in FIGURE 1, is ready for manual loading and the beginning of another cycle by the actuation of the manual control switch 148.

It can be seen that there has been provided with the novel construction of the invention a packaging machine which operates at an extremely high speed and in a foolproof manner to remove flattened cartons individually from a magazine and subsequently position the carton in a set-up or squared condition for manual end loading 'with an article of merchandise. The use of pneumatically actuated components in the invention enables the provision of a packaging machine of extreme simplicity, low cost, and a high degree of reliability. An outstanding feature of the invention is the automatic actuation of all of the machine operations except the manual loading which operations include the carton feeding, squaring, closing and discharging steps. As a result of this automatic actuation, which is arranged to be controlled by the operator, the production speed of the machine is limited only by the ability of the operator to manually load the articles into the cartons. The highly compact nature of the packaging machine of the invention makes it readily portable and capable of being easily modified or adjusted to handle cartons of various sizes and types. Furthermore, the packaging machine may be associated in a simple manner with various well-known conveying apparatus. Another unusual feature of the invention is its ready adaptability for processing either reverse tuck or straight tuck cartons and the positive carton closing operation provided by the novel arrangement of the carton folding and tucking assemblies.

While there has been provided what at present is considered to be the preferred embodiment of the invention, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the invention and, therefore, it is the aim of the appended claims to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

1. A packaging machine comprising, in combination, a frame having an upper surface, a loading zone on said frame upper surface, a magazine supported on said frame for holding a plurality of vertically stacked cartons in a flattened condition, said cartons having flaps at each end for closing the front and rear ends of said carton, a pair of opposed folding and tucking assemblies on said frame adjacent the ends of said loading zone, means for moving said folding and tucking assemblies between an inoperative position for accommodating a carton therebetween and an operative position for moving said carton front and rear flaps into closing relationship with the ends of said carton, retractable carton stop means on said frame adjacent said loading zone intermediate said folding and tucking assemblies, means for moving said carton stop means between a retracted position below said frame upper surface and an extended position with said stop means projecting upwardly from said frame upper surface adjacent the side of said loading zone opposite said magazine, reciprocally movable carton transfer and squaring means on said frame, means for moving said carton transfer and squaring means in one direction in the inoperative position of said folding and tucking assemblies to engage the trailing side edge of the lowermost flattened carton in said magazine and in the opposite direction to convey said edge engaged carton into said loading zone for abutting engagement of the leading side edge of said flattened carton with said stop means in the extended position, said means for moving said carton transfer and squaring means being arranged to continuously urge said carton into said abutting engagement with said extended stop means for squaring and gripping said carton with the ends of said carton adjacent said folding and tucking assemblies for end loading with an article and pushed means operatively associated with said carton transfer and squaring means for pushing said loaded carton along said frame upper surface out of said loading zone during the movement of said carton transfer and squaring means in said one direction in the inoperative position of said folding and tucking assemblies and in the retracted position of said stop means.

2. A packaging machine in accordance with claim 1 including spring means for yieldingly urging said carton in said loading zone downwardly against said frame upper surface.

3. A packaging machine in accordance with claim 1 wherein said retractable carton stop means include a pair of vertically extending rod members arranged in spaced apart relationship intermediate the ends of said loading zone and wherein said carton transfer and square means includes a pair of upstanding transfer arms extending upwardly from said frame upper surface and arranged for reciprocating movement in a direction transversely of said loading zone.

4. A packaging machine in accordance with claim 3 wherein said pusher means includes a pair of upstanding lugs arranged in spaced apart relationship for reciprocating movement transversely of said loading zone and means interconnecting said lugs and said transfer arms for simultaneous movement of said transfer arms and said discharge lugs in opposite directions.

5. A packaging machine in accordance with claim 1 wherein said carton processed in said packaging machine is substantially rectangular in transverse cross-sectional shape and includes a pair of side walls and top and bottom walls and wherein said front and rear flaps include side flaps connected to said carton side walls at each end of said carton, a panel connected to one of said top and bottom walls at each end of said carton, and a tuck tab connected along a folding line to each of said end panels and wherein said folding and tucking assemblies include means movable between an inoperative position and an operative position for folding said side flaps inwardly of said squared carton and means movable between an inoperative and an operative position for folding and tucking said tuck tabs into said carton ends in overlying retaining relationship with said inwardly folded side flaps.

6. A packaging machine in accordance with claim wherein said side flap folding means include a .pair of opposed plate members adjacent each end of said loading zone arranged for reciprocating movement transversely of said loading zone between said inoperative and said operative positions and wherein said means for folding and tucking said tuck tabs include tuck tab folding means movable reciprocally between an inoperative and an operative position to fold said tuck tabs about said end panel along said folding line in the operative position of said side flap folding means and end flap closing means operatively associated with said tuck tab folding means movable reciprocally between an inoperative position and an operative position in the inoperative position of said side flap folding means to tuck said tuck tabs into said carton ends.

7. A packaging machine in accordance with claim 6 including arcuately shaped guide means associated with each of said folding and tucking assemblies, said guide means being slidably engagable by said tuck tabs during the movement of said end flap closing means to guide said tuck tabs into said cart-on ends.

8. A packaging machine in accordance with claim 6 including manually controlled means for actuating the movement of said side flap folding means into said operative position, means controlled by the movement of said side flap folding means into said operative position for actuating the movement of said tuck tab folding means into said operative position, means controlled by the movement of said tuck tab folding means for actuating the movement of said side flap folding means into said inoperative position, means controlled by the movement of said side flap folding means into said inoperative position for actuating the movement of said end flap closing means into said operative position, means controlled by the movement of said end flap closing means into said operative position for actuating the movement of said carton transfer and squaring means in said one direction and the movement of said stop means into said retracted position, and means controlled by the movement of said carton transfer and squaring means in said one direction for actuating the movement of said carton transfer and squaring means in said opposite direction and the movement of said stop means into said extended position to position a carton in the gripped and squared condition for end loading in said loading zone.

9. A packaging machine in accordance with claim 1 wherein said means for moving said folding and tucking assemblies and said means for moving said stop means and said means for moving said carton transfer and squaring means are pneumatically actuated.

10. A packaging machine comprising, in combination, a frame having an upper surface, a loading zone on said frame upper surface, a magazine supported on said frame for holding a plurality of vertically stacked cartons in a flattened condition, said cartons having flaps at each end for closing the front and rear ends of said carton, at least one folding and tucking assembly on said frame adjacent one end of said loading zone, means for moving said folding and tucking assembly between an inoperative position for accommodating a carton on said loading zone and an operative position for moving said flaps on the end of said cartn adjacent said loading zone one end into closing relationship with said carton end, retractable carton stop means on said frame adjacent said loading zone, means for moving said carton stop means between a retracted position below said frame upper surface and an extended position with said stop means projecting upwardly from said frame upper surface adjacent the side of said loading zone opposite said magazine, reciprocally movable carton transfer and squaring means on said frame, means for moving said carton transfer and squaring means in one direction in the inoperative position of said folding and tucking assembly to engage the trailing side 'of the lowermost flattened carton in said magazine and in the opposite direction to convey said edge engaged carton into said loading zone for abutting engagement of the leading side edge of said flattened carton with said stop means in the extended position, said means for moving said carton transfer and squaring means being arranged to continuously urge said carton into said abutting engagement with said extended stop means for squaring and gripping said carton for end loading with an article and pusher means operatively associated with said carton transfer and squaring means for pushing said loaded carton along said frame upper surface out of said loading zone during the movement of said carton transfer and squaring means in said one direction in the inoperative position of said folding and tucking assembly and in the retracted position of said stop means.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 5/1960 Goss 53376 X 1/1967 Hendrick et a1 53390 X US. Cl. X.R. 53-376, 390 

1. A PACKAGING MACHINE COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION, A FRAME HAVING AN UPPER SURFACE, A LOADING ZONE ON SAID FRAME UPPER SURFACE, A MAGAZINE SUPPORTED ON SAID FRAME FOR HOLDING A PLURALITY OF VERTICALLY STACKED CARTONS IN A FLATTENED CONDITION, SAID CARTONS HAVING FLAPS AT EACH END FOR CLOSING THE FRONT AND REAR ENDS OF SAID CARTON, A PAIR OF OPPOSED FOLDING AND TUCKING ASSEMBLIES ON SAID FRAME ADJACENT THE ENDS OF SAID LOADING ZONE, MEANS FOR MOVING SAID FOLDING AND TUCKING ASSEMBLIES BETWEEN AN INOPERATIVE POSITION FOR ACCOMMODATING A CARTON THEREBETWEEN AND AN OPERATIVE POSITON FOR MOVING SAID CARTON FRONT AND REAR FLAPS INTO CLOSING RELATIONSHIP WITH THE ENDS OF SAID CARTON, RETRACTABLE CARTON STOP MEANS ON SAID FRAME ADJACENT SAID LOADING ZONE INTERMEDIATE SAID FOLDING AND TUCKING ASSEMBLIES, MEANS FOR MOVING SAID CARTON STOP MEANS BETWEEN A RETRACTED POSITION BELOW SAID FRAME UPPER SURFACE AND AN EXTENDED POSITION WITH SAID STOP MEANS PROJECTING UPWARDLY FROM SAID FRAME UPPER SURFACE ADJACENT THE SIDE OF SAID LOADING ZONE OPPOSITE SAID MAGAZINE, RECIPROCALLY MOVABLE CARTON TRANSFER AND SQUARING MEANS ON SAID FRAME, MEANS FOR MOVING SAID CARTON TRANSFER AND SQUARING MEANS IN ONE DIRECTION IN THE INOPERATIVE POSITION OF SAID FOLDING AND TUCKING ASSEMBLIES TO ENGAGE THE TRAILING SIDE EDGE OF THE LOWERMOST FLATTENED CARTON INSAID MAGAZINE AND IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION TO CONVEY SAID EDGE ENGAGED CARTON INTO SAID LOADING ZONE FOR ABUTTING ENGAGEMENT OF THE LEADING SIDE EDGE OF SAID FLATTENED CARTON WITH SAID STOP MEANS IN THE EXTENDED POSITION, SAID MEANS FOR MOVING SAID CARBON TRANS- 